Joshua 7

1 The Israelites, however, violated the proscription: Achan son of Carmi son of Zabdi son of Zerach, of the tribe of Yehuda, took of that which was proscribed, and Hashem was incensed with the Israelites.

3 They returned to Yehoshua and reported to him, “Not all the troops need go up. Let two or three thousand men go and attack Ai; do not trouble all the troops to go up there, for [the people] there are few.”

7 “Ah, Hashem!” cried Yehoshua. “Why did You lead this people across the Yarden only to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites, to be destroyed by them? If only we had been content to remain on the other side of the Yarden!

On the surface, it seems odd that Hashem would say that the People of Israel had sinned. Wasn’t it only Achan, the one who stole items from Yericho, who sinned? The Malbim points out that this verse teaches the critical principle of collective responsibility. The Children of Israel are not simply a collection of individuals. Rather, they are a spiritually united nation where the actions of one impact the fate of all. Therefore, when they entered Eretz Yisrael they became responsible for one another. This collective responsibility extends beyond simply avoiding negative things. All are also responsible for the positive welfare of their brothers and sisters, wherever they may be. Successfully meeting this collective responsibility is part of what makes the State of Israel great.1 comment

12 Therefore, the Israelites will not be able to hold their ground against their enemies; they will have to turn tail before their enemies, for they have become proscribed. I will not be with you any more unless you root out from among you what is proscribed.

13 Go and purify the people. Order them: Purify yourselves for tomorrow. For thus says Hashem, the God of Yisrael: Something proscribed is in your midst, O Yisrael, and you will not be able to stand up to your enemies until you have purged the proscribed from among you.

21 I saw among the spoil a fine Shinar mantle, two hundred shekalim of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekalim, and I coveted them and took them. They are buried in the ground in my tent, with the silver under it.”

24 Then Yehoshua, and all Yisrael with him, took Achan son of Zerach—and the silver, the mantle, and the wedge of gold—his sons and daughters, and his ox, his ass, and his flock, and his tent, and all his belongings, and brought them up to the Valley of Achor.

Joshua Map

About The Israel Bible

The Israel Bible is the world’s first Tanakh (Bible) centered around the Land of Israel, the People of Israel, and the dynamic relationship between them. Designed for both Jewish and non-Jewish readers alike, The Israel Bible offers a unique commentary that seeks to explain God’s focus on the Land of Israel alongside the original Hebrew text, transliteration of select Hebrew verses, and the New Jewish Publication Society translation.
Read More